FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Bethany L. Carter
Director of Marketing
202/646-6109 email: bcarter@mmart.com
THE WASHINGTON DESIGN CENTER ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUTHERN ACCENTS MAGAZINE FOR FALL 2004 DESIGN HOUSE
“The Gracious Room” Opens September 24th, 2004
[Washington, DC] – June 7, 2004 - The Washington Design Center is pleased to announce the fall 2004 Design House with Southern Accents magazine as media partner. The Gracious Room Fall 2004 Design House is the sixteenth iteration of the Design House project developed over the past seven years as a showcase for regional design talent and for the luxury furnishings and products available exclusively through Washington Design Center showrooms. Located on the retail Kitchen, Bath & Building Design Center level, The Gracious Room Fall 2004 Design House will open at a grand opening premier event on Thursday September 23rd from 6-8pm. The Gracious Room will remain open six days per week through December 18th, 2004.
"The Washington Design Center and Southern Accents have enjoyed a strong partnership for many years. Like the Design Center, Southern Accents holds special appeal for the affluent homeowners and designers from the DC Metro area. We look forward to the opening of The Gracious Room and are confident that the sponsors will reap many benefits from their participation." said Bill Carey, Vice President, Publisher of Southern Accents Magazine.
“Each spring and fall The Washington Design Center brings together the top talent of the region to create an incredible inspirational Design House. This bi-annual designer showcase allows Washingtonians a chance to see the finest home furnishings available anywhere in the world six-days a week,” said Andrew Glasow, Vice President Marketing, Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. “Our partnership with Southern Accents on this sixteenth iteration of Design House marks our third collaboration on a program which offers homeowners direct access to design professionals, current trends and vibrant and exclusive products that are available right here. Southern Accents is a leading national design magazine with an incredible editorial focus which remains a favorite in our region—you won’t want to miss this fall Design House or any of the accompanying special events.”
The Gracious Room Fall 2004 Design House opening party on Thursday, September 23rd is the first opportunity for the design community and the general public to preview the new house. This cocktail event includes hors d’oeuvres and open bars, along with a unique silent auction with items from Washington Design Center showrooms. Tickets for this event will benefit National Trust for Historic Preservation.
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Washington Design Center
Fall 2004 Design House
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The Washington Design Center is the only complete home furnishings resource in the mid-Atlantic that offers both the design trade and the public an unprecedented luxury shopping experience. Three programs offer consumers access to design professionals and to products found in The Washington Design Center. Design House, a 3,500 square foot showhouse located on the concourse level of the building, is a twice-yearly free exhibit featuring 9 full-sized rooms created by area design firms. The Design House is furnished with products found exclusively through Washington Design Center showrooms and offers inspiration and ideas for designers and homeowners alike.
Visitors can purchase products seen in the Design House through participating designers or with the help of Dial-a-Designer, a referral service which connects visitors with designers who provide complimentary half-hour consultations or assist with purchases. Additionally, visitors interested in working with designers may browse the Designer Index, a collection of 75 oversized portfolios featuring area architects and designers located on the retail Kitchen Bath and Building Design Center. Visitors may contact any of the designers directly to set up an appointment or inquire about design services.
The Washington Design Center is located at 300 D Street, SW in Washington, DC, above the Federal Center SW Metro Station served by the Orange and Blue lines. For information on The Washington Design
Center’s fall 2004 Design House, The Gracious Room, phone the Design House Hotline at 202-646-6108.
To learn more about the Design Center’s showrooms, programs and special events call 202/646-6118 or visit the Design Center online at merchandisemart.com/dcdesigncenter.
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.
MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart, Chicago Apparel Center, and 33 North Dearborn in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building in New York; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Washington Office Center in Washington, D.C.
Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado's common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.
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The Washington Design Center
202/646-6118 fax 202/488-3711 merchandisemart.com/dcdesigncenter